Great Black Women in History

This informative and inspirational course explores the lives, work and legacy of remarkable Black Women who distinguished themselves in their time and shaped the course of culture and history. The invisibility of Black women in history is linked to the fact that some historians felt that Black women’s issues did not merit inclusion and their contributions were ignored. It is important to recognise that the study of Black Women’s History makes for a much more inclusive, richer, fuller and more importantly, truthful account of World History.

This course uncovers the biography and achievements of great women from Ancient and Medieval Africa, through the transatlantic enslavement period, right up to the present. We will also examine work of the pioneering African American historians, Pauline Elizabeth Hopkins, Drusilla Houston, and Anna Melissa Graves. With their work emerged a new concept of Black History that underpins this course. Clearly there is a need for this sort of information.

After all: Can YOU name 10 Great Black Women who lived before the year 1900?

This is an introductory course and does not assume any previous study or reading. Handouts of each lesson and a reading list will be provided. The course will be taught through illustrated lectures and discussion.

Be inspired by their achievements and learn from their stories!

Course Information

To be confirmed

Course Content:

Week 1: The African Mother Goddesses and the Birth of Civilisation Week 2: Women in Ancient Kemet: Biography of the Queens and Women’s Rights Week 3: The Queens of Ancient Ethiopia Week 4: The Queens and Great Women of Medieval AfricaWeek 5: Black Women in Resistance to EnslavementWeek 6: Black Women in Britain: Uncovering the hidden herstories

Here are some comments from evaluations forms completed by past students:

“As always, this class offers an oasis for those seeking inspiration and knowledge about Black History. This course was extremely engaging as these are a few historical sources that focus on a panoramic view of African Women’s History.”

“There is a need for a course studying Black Women and I didn’t know all of the women on the course. However, it has been an inspirational, uplifting and has made me stronger in the fight for the liberation of our people.”

“Very good, course, I learnt so much. Good that you are giving Black women a platform.”

“I learnt about Black woman’s contribution to Black struggles and freedom. The course was easy to follow and well presented.”

“I haven’t heard of most of the people on the course but I am more knowledgeable now. I look forward to receiving information on more course to equip me in my knowledge of Black History. This has been a good starting point.”

“This has been my first formal entry into Black History. It has been an exceptional informative and inspiring course which served to simulate further interest- excellent.”

“As a beginner in the study of Black History, I found this course very enlightening. The course has made me aware of how much of our history has been hidden and excluded from the National School Curriculum. This course will be a springboard for me to go on to study further.”

Places on this courses are limited.

Places are available on a strictly first come, first served basis and we anticipate that there will be a lot of demand for this course.

If you would like to attend this course, please contact us for an enrolment form.

“Stand on your own two Black feet and fight like hell for your place in the world” – Amy Jacques Garvey

“I am where I am because of the bridges that I crossed. Sojourner Truth was a bridge. Harriet Tubman was a bridge. Ida B. Wells was a bridge. Madame C. J. Walker was a bridge. Fannie Lou Hamer was a bridge”- Oprah Winfrey

“I freed a thousand slaves I could have freed a thousand more if only they knew they were slaves” – Harriet Tubman

“Without you, African mother, there would have been no us– African fathers, sons and daughters. Do we need to say any more African mothers, our own true goddesses! Let us praise you to the highest, telling the world about your righteousness. Let us tell the entire universe about your sacredness African woman” – Yosef Ben-Jochannan

“Our purpose in life is to leave a legacy for our children and our children’s children. For this reason, we must correct history that at present denies our humanity and self-respect” – Queen Mother Moore

“I never ran my train off the track. And I never lost a passenger” – Harriet Tubman

“My bones are tired. Not tired of struggling, but tired of oppression” – Queen Mother Moore

“If you men are to behave like cowards you should exchange your loin cloth for my under garments” – Yaa Asantewaa

“A revolutionary woman can’t have no reactionary man. If he’s not about liberation, if he’s not about struggle, if he ain’t about building a strong Black family, if he ain’t about building a strong Black nation, then he ain’t about nothing” – Assata Shakur

“Our bodies were the occupied countries we liberated… it was also important to claim the body as a site of pleasure, power and possibility. We were making revolution” – Bell Hooks